A US Marine colonel forced into retirement by way of court-martial has again been arrested on new charges involving child abuse.
54-year-old Todd Shane Tomko was arrested in Illinois last Wednesday on an astonishing seven outstanding felony warrants from the Virginia Beach Police Department.
A veteran of 33 years in the Corps and former commander of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, the now scruffy-faced Tomko spend two months in the brig last year after sending sexual text messages to a female enlisted subordinate, obtaining and using testosterone without a prescription, and driving drunk to his own arraignment.
According to a Military.com interview with VBPD MPO Linda Kuehn, the charges against Tomko include three counts of aggravated sexual battery, three counts of indecent liberties with a child, and one count of felony cruelty to children, ranging from 2002 to present and involving three juvenile victims.
Marine Corps spokesman Major Brian Block said Naval Criminal Investigative Service officials were still learning the full details of Tomko’s case.
“It’s probably too early to say one way or the other” whether the military will take action, Block said.
Tomko may be called out of retirement to be charged by the military, a rare move that usually involves only the highest-profile cases, though in recent years it has been done for retiree child abuse cases that are sexual in nature.
Either way, Tomko stands to lose some benefits if convicted of a felony, be it in civilian or military court, as VA benefits can be reduced if a retiree is convicted and spends more than 60 days behind bars.
In September, another Marine colonel was found guilty of sexually abusing a child at Camp Lejeune and six counts of conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman, and absence without leave. He was sentenced to 5 ½ years of confinement and was dismissed from service.
© 2017 Bright Mountain Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.
